How to Write Your Own Screenplay

Screenwriters lay out the action and dialogue for movies in a format known as the screenplay. A screenplay is a unique literary form because the primary end result of a screenplay is not to be read by the general reading public. A screenplay is written to be viewed. A screenplay is a blueprint for what will appear on a movie screen. Screenplays require a good story and specific visual formatting. Learn how you can write your own screenplay for the great movie you've always wanted to see.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Computer
• Screenwriting software

1. Write a step outline for your screenplay. A step outline can be as simple as a numbered list of plot points or a sketch of the scenes you want to include in your screenplay in the order they will appear. Consider using 3"x5" index cards for this. You can keep the cards in front of you while you write, shuffling them as needed to restructure your story.

2. Write only what you can see and hear on a movie screen. There's nothing else in a screenplay. Action and dialogue are all you write. Think about the three-act structure as you tell your story. This structure includes the set-up of your story, the rising action, and the conclusion. A typical 120-page screenplay devotes approximately the first thirty pages (Act 1) to setting introducing your characters and setting up the story problem, the middle sixty pages (Act 2) to the rising action, and the last thirty pages ( Act 3) to wrapping up the story. Most movies follow this pattern, but don't force yourself to count pages while you write. Use the three-act structure as a guide.

3. Write camera angles and direction in your screenplay if you plan to shoot and direct the movie yourself. If you're writing the movie for someone else to direct, stay away from writing camera angles or any other directorial writing. Directors will most likely ignore any information included in the screenplay that tells them how to shoot the film.

4. Pay attention to spelling and grammar. Some screenwriters might use short, incomplete sentences to express visual effect in a screenplay. This type of writing is acceptable, but punctuations and other grammatical conventions should be followed.

5. Remember the specifics of screenplay structure. Page margins should be 1.5" on the left for binding and 1" on the top, bottom, and right margin. Write action in upper/lower case with a single space between paragraphs. Write character names in all capitals with the left margin set at 4" and the right at 7.8". Write dialogue in upper/lower case with a left margin set at 2.8" and the right margin at 6.1". All scene headings should be capitalized with the same margins as the page. The scene heading tells us whether we're inside or out (INT. or EXT.), where we are, and if it's day or night. A scene heading looks like this: INT. HOUSE - NIGHT. Read produced screenplays for examples of proper format (see resources) and to give you ideas about what works and what doesn't. Reading screenplays is one of the best ways to become a better screenwriter.

6. Use screenwriting software for repetitive formatting tasks a screenplay requires. Movie Magic Screenwriter and Final Draft are the leading scriptwriting products on the market. Celtx is free screenwriting software that will allow you to write industry standard screenplays. (see Resources). Another option is to use an online screenwriting system. There are several of those available at no charge (see resources). All of these screenwriting products will handle the repetitive formatting for you so you can focus on writing the story.

Resources

• Film Script Writing
• Celtx Free Screenwriting Software
• Script Buddy Free Online Screenwriting
• Scripped Free Online Scriptwriting
• Simply Scripts

[troylarson]

on 10/23/2009 Nice. A screenplay article with some details. Nicely done.